Lock.



| 4- 363 Patented Apr. 27, 1915. 1,137,

'STATES CHARLES H. STAHL, `0E NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNoE To THE -PELEGHAR HARDWARE lSPECIALTY co.,

CONNECTICUT.

0Fv NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, CORPORATION OF LOCK.

Patented Apr. 2*?, 1915.

Application led J' une 2, 1914. Serial No. 842,391.

kTo allee/om t may concern l Be it known that I, CHARLES H. STAHL, a lcitizen of the United States, and resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locks, of,

which the "following is a specification.v

This invention 'relates to locks for automatically securing pivoted parts in various angular positions relative to each other, with the lobjectiin view of providing a device of this Vcharacter which is simple, compact, neat in appearance, and positive in action.

The device is particularly adapted for usel in connection with the wind shields of motor vehicles, for locking the upper sec- -tion of the wind shield in various positions with respect tothe lower section, which latter is generally fixed; or for locking asingle section wind shield in various positions with respect to the dash. 'f

Another object is to'provide certain improvements in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, whereby the above named'objects may be effectively carried out." v

A practical embodiment of my. invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, infwhich-V Figure 1 represents a face viewl of the device, Fig. 2 represents a view at right angles to Fig. l, Fig. 3 represents a section n taken in the plane of the line A-A of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 4 represents a view taken in the plane of the line B-B of Fig.l 2, looking in the direction ofthe Avarrows, and F ig.v 5 representsaA section, on the same line-as Fig'. 4-

but withthe device'inunlocked position.

The lock comprises an outer memberl l which is `conventionally shown here as of rectangular shape; but which may be fashvVioned for connection with any part, such,

' for-, instancefas the stanchion which supports the lower section of a wind-shield.

The outer member'l has a Vcircular open- V ing therethrough'whichy yisafr'ranged to receive,witha bearing fit, the inner member v2, whereby the members 1 and-:2 are fitted to'foscillatev in a 'rotary vdirection with regspect toeach other, vand more specifically the inner member 2 is adaptedto move ina y rotarydirection within-the outer member-.1.

and the bottom yof the groove 5.

The member 2 is further provided with a shoulder adapted to engage a correspondingrecess in the member l for preventing the member 2 from moving through the member l in an inward direction.

The member 2 has a projection t thereon which may be fastened in a desired manner to the other section of the wind shield or other part in connection with which the llock is used.

The inner member 2 has a centrally disposed peripheral groove 5 which is approximately semi-circular in cross section; while the outer member 1V has a straight transversely extending Vpassage 6 therethrough, which is arranged so as to .lie substantially tangentially with respect to the periphery of the inner member 2. It will be noted, however, that the inner wall of the passage 6 lies somewhat nearer to the center of the inner member 2 than does the bottom of the groove 5. Y

' A'pair ofballs 7, of approximately the same diameter as the passage 6, and having a contour substantially corresponding with that of the groove 5, are disposed within the passage 6 andarranged to rest in the groove 5. These balls 7 are yieldingly forced to` ward each other by coil springs 8, which are confined within the passage 6 by means of screw threaded followers 9, as clearly shown in Figs. 4t and 5. Y i

A11-adjustable wedge 10 is screw` threaded vinto-the upper portion of the member l, and lies in a direction substantially at right anvfor turning it. Y

Tn operation, when the device is assembled as shown in Fig. 4, the balls 7 are pressed toward each other until theyl are cramped between the upper wall of the passage 6 This cramping action is due to the fact that the diameter ofthe balls is greater than the distance from the upper wall of the passage 6 and bottom of the groove 5 at the point where the said wall and grooveV are closest to each other In this position, the inner member 2 is locked against rotary oscillafor forcing said balls and out of engagement with both members.

tion within the outer member. l by reason ofV the fact that one of the balls 7, being cramped against further inward movement, will positively prevent a rotary movement in a direction tending to force the said ball inwardly, while the other ball 7 will act contrariwise. y Y v Vhen it is desired to vchange the relative position of the two members, the adjustable wedge 10 is screwed down until it separates the balls 7, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. ln this position the balls still rest inthe groove 5, but they do not impinge against the walls of the passage 6, and consequently the inner member 2 may be turned within the outer member l. v

When the desired angular adjustment of the members has been obtained, it is only necessary to unscrew the wedge l0 so as to withdraw it to its inoperative position, indicated in Fig. A, at which point the springs 8V will automatically force the balls 7 inwardly to the position shown in Fig. el, and thereby positively lock the device. f It will be understood that various changes may b e resorted to in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence do not intend to be limited to specific details herein shown and described except as they may be set forth in the claims.

What I claim is 1. A locking device vof the class described comprising inner andV outer members tted to oscillate relatively to each other, a pair of balls arranged to rest on the periphery ofthe inner member, automatic means to .forcethe balls toward each other and into engagement with both members, and means away from each other 2. A locking device of the class described, comprising a circular inner member, an outer member in which the inner memberfis fitted to oscillate, a pair of balls adapted to rest on the periphery of the inner member, a transverse passage in the outer member substantially tangential to the inner member, means located in said passage to force 'the balls into engagement with the two members, and means disposed at an angle to said passage for forcing the balls out of said engagement.

3. A locking device of the class described comprising Va circular inner member, an outer member in which the inner member is fitted to oscillate, a peripheral groove on the inner member, a pair of balls adapted to rest in said groove, a transverse passage in the outer member substantially tangential to the inner member, means to force the balls toward each other and into engagement with Y the bottom of the groove and the top of the passage, and means to force the balls away from each other and out of engagement with the bottom of the groove and top of the passage. Y'

4. A locking device Yof the class described comprising a circularV inner member, an outer'member in which the inner member is fitted to oscillate, a peripheral groove on the inner member, a pair of balls'adapted to rest in said groove, a transverse'passage 1n the outer member substantially tangential to the inner member, automatic means to force the balls toward each other and into engagement with the bottom of the groove'and the top of the passage, and means to.' force ,the balls awayfrom each other and out of engagement vwith the bottom of thek groove and top of the passage. I

5. A locking device of the class described Y comprising a circular inner member, Y. an outer member in which the inner member is fitted to `oscillate, aV peripheral groove on the inner member, 'a transverse passage inthe outer member substantially tangential Yto the inner member, but with its bottom wall lying closer to the center of the inner member than does the bottom of the groove, a pair of balls tted to rest in the groove, said balls being greater in diameter than the shortest dis tancebetween the bottom of the groove and the top of the` passage, means to force the balls into engagement with the bottom of the groove and the top of the passage, and means to force the balls out of engagement with the bottom of the groove and the top of the passage. Y v f.

6. A locking device of the class described comprising a circular inner member, an outer member in which the inner member is -fitted to oscillate, a peripheral groove on Vthe inner member, a transverse passagein` the 105 outer member substantially tangential to the inner member, but with its bottom wall lying closer to the center of the inner member f than does the bottom of the groove, alpair of balls fitted to rest in the groove, said balls 11( being greater in diameter thanthe shortest distance between the bottom of the groove andthe top of the passage, meansto force said balls toward each other -and into engagement with thebottom'of theV groove and 11` the top of the passage. g

7 A locking device of the class described comprising a circular Ainner member, an outer member in which the inner member is fitted to oscillate, inner member, ak transverse'passage in the outer member s ibstantially tangential to the `inner member, but with its bottomwal'llying closer to the centerof the inner member than does the bottom of the groove,

greater in diameterfthan lthe shortest distance. between the top lof the passage, means to force said a peripheral groove on the 12 a pair ofballs Y12 fitted to rest in the groove, said ballsbeing the bottom of the groove and Y and the4 top of the passage, and means to force said balls away from each other and vout of engagement with the bottom of the f fitted to oscillate, a peripheral groovel onpthe inner member, aY transverse passage in thel outer member substantially tangential to the Y inner member, but with its bottom wall lying closer to the center of the inner member than does the bottom of the groove, a pair orl balls itted to rest in the groove, said balls being greater in diameter than the shortest distance between the bottom of the groove and the top of the passage, automatic means for forcing said balls toward each other and into engagement with the bottom of the groove groove and the top of the passage.

9. A locking device of the class described A comprising a circular inner member, an

outer member in which the inner member is fitted to oscillate, a peripheral groove on the e inner member, a transverse passage in the outer member substantially tangential to the inner member, but with its bottom wall lying closer to the center of the inner member than does the bottom of the groove, a pair of balls fitted to rest in the groove, said balls being greater in diameter than the shortest distance between the bottom of the groovel and the top of the passage, automatic means for yieldingly forcing the balls toward each other and into engagement with the bottom of the groove and the top of the passage, and means to force said balls away from each other and out of engagement with the bottom of the groove and top of the passage.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I' have signed my name in presence oftwo witnesses, this 29th day of May 1914..

' CHARLES H. sTAHL.

vWitnesses:

CARL F. STAHL, WILLIAM G. DAVIDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

